As the Pentagon begins enforcing a new policy separating transgender service members from the military, internal criticism is growing within the ranks—this time from a fellow soldier in the same unit as a transgender National Guard member who has gone viral on social media.
A soldier in the Pennsylvania National Guard, who requested anonymity due to fears of reprisal, spoke with The Salty Soldier about what they describe as a growing problem of regulation abuse in the wake of shifting military gender policies.
The soldier’s frustrations stem from interactions with Sergeant Rodriguez, a biologically female NCO who identifies and presents as male, but continues to follow appearance and grooming standards permitted for female soldiers. As previously reported, Rodriguez has shared videos online bragging about not shaving her testosterone-induced facial hair, claiming she doesn’t have to comply with male grooming standards because the Army still classifies her as female in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS).
According to the soldier, Rodriguez appeared at drill with visible facial hair after being assigned to their unit. But, as they explained, “It’s the ‘kinder, gentler’ Army now,” so no one called her out in formation.
Instead, she was privately approached by a superior who assumed she was a male soldier and instructed her to shave. That’s when the issue escalated.
The superior, who had no idea that the soldier was a female, was told by the commander she was a biological female and therfore could not be reprimanded for facial hair under army regulations.
Rodriguez’s case illustrates a regulatory gray area that critics say is being exploited. Army Regulation 670-1 enforces grooming standards based on the gender marker listed in a soldier’s official records. Since Rodriguez has not changed her gender in DEERS, she remains subject to female appearance rules—even while presenting as a male.
In one TikTok video, Rodriguez jokes, “I’m not shaving my chin until DEERS changes my gender to male.” The post features facial hair and is tagged with hashtags like #military and #transman. In other posts, she sports diamond earrings while in uniform, something only female soldiers are authorized to wear.
@_s_k_y_e__ Im not shaving my chin until deers changes my gender to male idc 🤣 #fyp #military #militarytiktok #transman #transgender ♬ sonido original – .
To the anonymous soldier, these are not isolated incidents—they’re emblematic of a larger trend.
“This soldier can’t meet the male PT standards to be recognized as a male. They’ve had multiple DUIs. They don’t want to sleep in the male barracks. And as you’ve seen, they don’t want to follow male grooming standards,” the soldier said. “They’re playing both sides of the regulation—whatever gives them the most leeway.”
The soldier emphasized they are not opposed to transgender individuals serving in uniform, but believe the current framework is deeply flawed.
“I’m not against trans soldiers in the military. But this program was rolled out with huge gaps, and now we’re seeing exactly what happens when no one wants to enforce the standards. The previous administration thought soldiers wouldn’t take advantage of these policies. Well, they were wrong.”
The Pentagon’s revised policy, issued in early May following Executive Order 14183, now requires transgender service members to either voluntarily separate or face administrative removal. Active-duty troops have 30 days to initiate the process, while National Guard and Reserve personnel have 60.
According to internal DoD estimates, approximately 1,000 service members have been notified and are expected to separate. However, the broader total of service members diagnosed with gender dysphoria—or otherwise affected by the change—exceeds 4,000 across the military branches.
As the military implements this policy, commanders are finding themselves caught in the middle—tasked with upholding uniform standards while avoiding allegations of discrimination or harassment. That balance, the anonymous soldier argues, has eroded unit discipline.
“It’s become an epidemic,” they said. “There’s a generation of soldiers who identify as trans, female, lesbian, vegan, minority—you name it—before they identify as a soldier. And the second you hold them to a standard, they cry victim. That’s what’s killing morale.”
The soldier’s comments reflect a wider frustration felt across parts of the force, particularly among senior enlisted personnel, who believe regulatory ambiguity is being used to sidestep responsibility rather than uphold readiness.
Supporters of inclusive policies argue that military regulations need to evolve alongside society, allowing service members to live openly without penalty. But critics insist that until grooming, housing, and physical standards are applied uniformly—regardless of identity—the resulting confusion and selective enforcement will continue to divide the ranks.
With the transgender separation deadline fast approaching, commanders must now enforce a policy that remains politically and culturally charged—while managing the fallout from years of unclear rules and inconsistent leadership.
For those in the ranks, like the Pennsylvania National Guard soldier, the damage may already be done.
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